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The Treaty of Paris concluded on January 6, 1810, forced Sweden to join the Continental System, a trade embargo against Great Britain. Since Great Britain was Sweden's biggest trade partner this caused economic difficulties, and trade continued to take place through smuggling. On November 13, 1810, France delivered an ultimatum to the Swedish government demanding that within five days Sweden:

Declare war against Great Britain,

Confiscate all British ships in Swedish ports,

Seize all British products in Sweden.

France and its allies threatened to declare war against Sweden if it did not meet the French demands. On November 17, the Swedish government declared war against Great Britain.

No acts of war occurred during the conflict, but Britain stationed boats in Hanö, which had been invaded though Sweden didn't try to hinder nor revoke the occupation as it supported the continued trade. Nevertheless, fearing the possibility of a British invasion, the Swedish government began to conscript more farmers into military service. This led to the only bloodshed during the war on June 15, 1811, when Major-General Hampus Mörner with 140 men acted to disperse a group of farmers in Klågerup in Scania who objected to the conscription policy. In the Klågerup riots, Mörner's soldiers killed 30 farmers.[1]

The Swedish Crown Prince Charles August had died on May 28, 1810, and on August 21, 1810, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected crown prince of Sweden. Under Bernadotte's rule, Sweden's relationship with France deteriorated. When France occupied Swedish Pomerania and the island of Rügen in 1812, Sweden sought peace with Great Britain.